Box



July 2, 1940. w. w. WERNER BOX Filed Feb 20, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX v Willy W. Werner, Detroit, Mich. Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,387

\ 14 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes or containers, and in particular it relates to a box having novel features of construction wherein a unitary structure is formed from a single blank of stock and folded in a manner which permits the assembly to be easily andpermanently secured in its folded relation. More particularly, the invention relates to a box formed from heavy paper stock or from composition stock.

In paper boxes, for example, beer cases, it has been conventional practice to secure the cases by a gluing operation. Such a practice has several objectional features. When it is considered that boxes of this character are used several times and are subjected to considerable handling, it is obvious that the box must be substantial in construction and must retain a serviceable and neat appearance. In accordance with the practice of my invention I provide a box having handles in which the mode of attachment of the handles. provides means for securing the box components into a complete assembly. Another requirement for a box of this type is that it should exclude light as much 5 as tpossible. Also, it is desirable to provide means for permitting circulation of air through the box to facilitate cooling of the contents of the box when the box is ,placed in a refrigerator.

It is, therefore, among the objects of my invention to provide a box which is rigid in construction; which is securely assembled; which includes handles for convenient transportation; which excludes light; which permits air to be circulated therethrough; and, which may be eco- 35 nomically and efficiently manufactured. These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the'accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a box embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of the box, in section, taken along lines II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is aview of a portion of the box, in section, taken along lines III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a handle which functions to fasten the box together; I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of ablank from which the box is formed;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. Billustrating a modified form of handle and its mode of attachment to the box; and,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the modified handle.

With reference to the drawing and in particular to Fig. l, I show an embodiment of my invention in the form of a box I, having sides 2, and portions 3, and cover members 4 including flaps 5. The box is of conventional rectangular shape and of a size suitable for containing and 5 transporting bottled beer. For purpose of illustration I refer to the box as a beer case or container; however, it is to be understood that the box is equally suitable as a container for many other commodities.

Forming a continuation of the sides 2, are extension members -6 which bend around the end portions 3 to provide means whereby the extension members 6 and the end portions 3 may be permanently joined. Flaps I extend from the extension members 6, and a bottom portion 8, as shown in Fig. 2, complete the structural elements of the box.

As shown in Fig. 5, the entire box inclosure is formed from a single sheet of cardboard or fiber board stock. In the operation in which the blank is out, creases may be formed in the blank as shown by the dotted lines in order to facilitate folding of the blank into box form. Also, in the same operation, rectangular openings 9 are cut through the wall, of the end portions 3 and rectangular notches ID are cut into the extension members 6 'for complementary association with the openings 9 when the box is in folded assembly. The purpose of the openings 9 and notches ID are to locate and to provide clearance for assembly of a handle member II with the box structure. The handle member Ii provides a double function one of which is to operate as means for securing the folded box' in a permanently joined assembly. The other function is to serve as a handle for facilitating manual handling and transporting of the box.

The member ll shown particularly in Fig. 4 comprises a rectangular plate l2 preferably of sheet metal and having a plurality of prongs I3 extending therefrom in a plane at right-angles to the plane of the plate I2. The center portion of the plate 12 includes a segment-like depression I4 formed in a stamping operation. The depression provides an indenture by means of which an operatormay manually grasp the member II as a handle for lifting or otherwise supporting the box. I

After the box members are folded in proper position the handle member H is associated therewith in a manner in which the depressed portion ll of the plate l2 substantially occupies the area formed by the opening 9 and the slots III which coincide with the opening 9. When in this position the handle member II is pressed into position with the box members so that the prongs i3 pierce the walls 0! the extension members 6 and portions 3. Thereafter, the ends oi! the prongs i3 are bent over against the inner walls of the end portions 3. By thus securing the handle member ii thebox is permanently and securely maintained in a rigid assembly. The attachment of the handle therefore functions as the sole means for securing the box in i'olded position. In manually lifting or otherwise transporting the box, the handle not only is supported by the prongs it for carrying the load but also obtains the benefit of the depressed portion I which extends through the walls of the extension members i and end portions 3. The depressed portion id in the handle member I I does not form an opening through the plate l2. The purpose of this construction prevents light from passing through the handle member and therefore provides a substantially light-proof box. In boxes used as beer cases, it is preferable that as much light as possible be excluded from the box.

As shown in Fig. 3 the handle member may include a ridge i5 located at the upper portion of the depression l4 adjacent to plate II. The object of the ridge is to prevent the fingers from slipping from the depressed portion of the handle member.

It is sometimes desirable to permit air to circulate through the box while substantially excluding light from the box. The purpose of permitting air to circulate through the box is to facilitate cooling of commodities within the box when the box, together with its contents, is

placed in a refrigerated chamber. I provide cooling means in the form of a plurality of apertures it extending through the wall of the end portions 3 at a location where the apertures become slightly overlapped by the extension members 6 when in folded position. In the final assembly of the box there remains a slight separation between the end portions-3 and the extension members 6, thus permitting free passage of air through the apertures it as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. i The extension members 6 are cut so that their lower edges form substantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corners of the box to a point slightly below the handle member ii. The object of this cut-away portion is to prevent loose or unsecured comers on the extension members 6, and to terminate the ends of the extension members in a common region at which a single securing means at each end of the box functions to retain the elements of the box in assembled relationship.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, I show a modified form of the invention which includes a box similar to that hereinbefore described but which provides for a handle il forming a rectangular plate i8 bent at its central portion in a manner to provide in effect a tubular shaped member i9 extending longitudinally of plate i8 and spaced from the surface of the plate It. A plurality of prongs 20 extending from the margin of the plate l8 provide means for piercing the end portions 3 and extension members 6 of the box. As shown in Fig. 6 the ends of the prongs ,20 are bent over, thus securing the wall members of the box together. The manner of securing the handle member H to the box differs from the handle member il in that the plate forming the body of the handle member is located in the interior of the box. The tubular member is extends through the openings 9 and slots ill in the end portions 1 and extension members 6, respectively, to permit a wire handle ii to be attached to the tubular portion extending toward the outside of the box.

As thus shown and described, I have provided a box which is rigid in construction and which may be easily and efficiently assembled by semiautomatic equipment and which includes novel features of design resulting in a neat appearing and eflicient container. 4

While I have, described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible to those modifications which appear obvious and which appear within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention which I claim is:

1. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and a plate located at each end of the box and adapted to fasten the end portions and'extension members together, said plates having depressed portions, and said end portions and extension members having openings for receiving the depressed portions.

2. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, handles, and prongs projecting from the handles and extending through the walls of the end portions and extension members for fastening same together.

3. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and a plate located at each end of the box and adapted to fasten the end portions and extension members together, each of said extension members being shaped at their lower edges to form substantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corner of the side portions to a point below said plate.

4. Abox forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and I end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and a plate located at each end of the box and adapted to fasten the end portions and extension members together, each of said extension members being shaped at their lower edges to form substantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corner of the side portions to a point below said plate, the end portions having a plurality of apertures located in an area overlapped by the extension members.

5. A. box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion,

side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom-portion, extension members iorming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, handles. and prongs projecting from the handles and extending through the walls of the end portions and extension members for fastening same together, each of said extension members being shaped at their lower edges to form substantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corner of the side portions to a point below said handl s. a

6. A box forming a rectangular closnre'of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations oi the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, handles, and prongs projecting from the handles and extending through the walls of the end portions and extension members for fastening same together, each of the end portions having a plurality of apertures located in an area overlapped by the extension members.

'7. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continua tion of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and handles located at each end of the box, each of said handles comprising a plate having a depressed portion formed therein and a plurality of prongs extending from the plate and passing through the end pol"- tions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship.

8. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and handles located at each end of the box, each of said handles comprising a plate having a depressed portion formed therein and a plurality of prongs extending from the plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, said end portions and extension members having openings therein for the reception of the depressed portion of the plate.

9. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and handles located at each end of the box, each of said handles comprising a plate having a depressed portion formed therein and a plurality of prongs extending from the plate and passing through the endportions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, said extension members being shaped at their lower edges to form s istantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corner of the side portions to a point below said plate.

10. A box forming a rectangular closure oi sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion,

side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations oi the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and handles located at each end of the box, each of said handles comprising a plate having a depressed portion formed therein and a pluralityof prongs extending from the plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, the end portions having a plurality of apertures located in an area overlapped by the extension members.

11. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions. and means for fastening the box together and for providing a manual gripping device comprising a plate located at each end of the box, a tubular element formed from part 01 each plate, a plurality of prongs extending from each plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, and a handle pivotally retained by each tubular element.

, 12. A. box forming a rectangular closure of.

sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and means for fastening the box together and for providing a manual gripping device comprising a plate located at each end of the box, a tubular element formed from part of each plate, a plurality of prongs extending from each plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, and a handle pivotally retained by each tubular element, said end portions and extension members having openings through which the tubular element extends.

13. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and means for fastening the box together and for providing a manual gripping device comprising a plate lo-- cated at each end of the box,a tubular element formed from part of each plate, a plurality of prongs" extending from each plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, and a handle pivotally retained by each tubular element, said extension members being shaped at their lower edges to form substantially a diagonal margin extending from the lower corner of the side portions to a point below said plate.

14. A box forming a rectangular closure of sheet fiber board comprising a bottom portion, side portions, and end portions, said side portions and end portions forming continuations of the bottom portion, extension members forming a continuation of the side portions lying in overlapped relation with the end portions, and means for fastening the box together and for providing a manual gripping device comprising a plate located at each end of the box, a tubular element formed from part of each plate, a plurality of prongs extending from each plate and passing through the end portions and extension members for providing the sole means for retaining the box in assembled relationship, and a handle pivotally retained by each tubular element, the end portions having a plurality of apertures located in an area overlapped by the extension members. 5

WILLY W. WERNER. 

